# Virginia HB2403: School boards; panic alarm systems in each school required.

Virginia HB2403, School boards; panic alarm systems in each school required., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Geary Higgins (Republican); status failed, last action 2025-02-04 (Left in Education) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB2403-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB2403
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: School boards; panic alarm systems in each school required.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-08
- Last action: 2025-02-04, Left in Education
- Sponsor: Geary Higgins (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Education
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

School boards; panic alarm systems in each school required. Requires each school board to equip each public elementary and secondary school building in the local school division with a panic alarm system that includes at least one panic alarm device in each classroom or other room in the building in which students will be present and that adheres to nationally recognized industry standards. The bill defines "panic alarm system" as a silent security system by which the user manually activates a device that sends a non-audible signal to the local 9-1-1 public safety answering point that indicates a school security emergency that requires immediate response and assistance from such public safety answering point, including a non-fire evacuation, lockdown, medical emergency, or active shooter situation. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Geary Higgins (Republican), House

## Actions (4)

- 2025-02-04: Left in Education (House)
- 2025-01-13: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2403) (House)
- 2025-01-08: Referred to Committee on Education (House)
- 2025-01-08: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25103665D (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2025-01-08: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1016240.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1016239.PDF)

## Related bills

- HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted)
- SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed)
- HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed)
- HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed)
- SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed)
- HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor)

## Sources
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1016240.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1016239.PDF)

## Related
- [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025)
- [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025)
- [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025)
- [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025)
- [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025)
- [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB2403-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).